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The Kouga Municipality in the Eastern Cape has added drone technology to its arsenal to improve public safety and aid disaster management.
Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman launched the first "Drone as a First Responder (DFR) programme" in Africa at the Kouga incident command centre in Humandorp on Monday.
He said this programme builds on the municipality's long-standing dedication to public safety and proactive disaster management and cements Kouga's reputation as a trailblazer in public safety. It complements previous achievements like the panic application with video functionality for residents, body cameras for officers, and the establishment of the incident command centre.
The mayor said the drone-led safety initiative sets a new national benchmark for integrating technology into emergency services.
"Previous initiatives, such as our highly regarded Fire and Rescue Services, Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, and Community Safety Partnership, have laid the foundation for this technological advancement.
"With the integration of drones into our emergency response capabilities, we are enhancing existing programmes and setting a new benchmark for how technology can save lives.
"This step forms part of our continuous effort to provide exceptional services to our community," Bornman said.
The programme, launched earlier as a pilot project, will operate until mid-May. After that, the municipality will have a network of drones across the Kouga region using patented software that can handle emergencies 24/7.
UrSafe Technologies Director Stuart Riddle emphasised the game-changing role of drones in emergency operations and the DFR's unique capabilities.
"While drones and body cams are not new, the UrSafe initiative stands out by integrating personal safety, law enforcement enhancement, and the ability to deploy drones as first responders under one patented technology umbrella," he said.
DA provincial leader Andrew Whitfield and Kouga constituency leader Dr Vicky Knoetze joined the mayor at the launch.
Whitfield stated that this initiative stands out for its integrated approach to personal safety, law enforcement, and emergency response.
He said areas such as Humansdorp experience problems with gangsterism, abalone poaching is rife along the coast, while cable theft and vandalism of municipal property are widespread issues across Kouga.
"These drones will significantly assist the police in combating these crimes.
"The DFR program establishes a network of drones for remote and independent flights, transmitting vital imagery to the ICC," Whitfield said.
